Cal State University East Bay sports officially began its NCAA DII competition with a slew of games with mixed success. Both the men's and women's soccer teams kicked off their seasons with victories while the women's volleyball team traveled to Honolulu, Hawaii, for the Aqua Hotel Invitational and dropped all four of their games.

Men's soccer took the field at home Thursday, August 27, opposing William Jessup University. Head Coach Andrew Cumbo was very happy for the team's achievements.

"We are very pleased to start the season with a win and a shutout," said Cumbo. "William Jessup is a hard working team."

Billy Morales was able to stop all five shots taken on target, earning a shutout in his first game, while his offense tallied one goal in each half to earn them a 2-0 win in the season opener.

CSEB was able to get on top of Jessup early, netting their first goal when Michael Molinari headed home an Arnoldo Mendoza cross in the 20th minute.

"Arnoldo worked really hard to get his cross off to Mike Molinari who finished the ball with a diving header," Cumbo reflected on the opening goal. "It was a great goal and a great first of the season."

And they began to dominate from that point forward, creating countless opportunities culminating with Christian Eteti dribbling the ball into the goal after deking out the WJ keeper in the 71st minute.

Next up for the men's soccer is a trip to Washington to take on Seattle Pacific (Tuesday, Sept. 1 - not available for press) and St. Martin's (Thursday, Sept. 3, in Lacey, Wash.).

Women's soccer traveled to San Francisco on Thursday, August 27, and, like the men, left the field with a shutout victory. However, the women's offense was able to net five goals in their 5-0 win over the Academy of Art.

Zuly Diaz, Danielle Barbounis, Shianna Falk, Michelle Garcia and Ariana Nobrega were the goal scorers and Nina Cefalo saved the lone shot that the Urban Knights took for a clean sheet, improving them to 1-0-0 on the season.

CSEB women's soccer will also travel to Washington, first taking on St. Martin's on Thursday, Sept. 3, before traveling to Seattle Pacific for a Saturday, Sept. 5, contest.

Coach Greg Ryan's women's volleyball team did not have as much success as the two soccer programs. His club traveled to Honolulu, Hawaii, to begin their early season schedule with the Aqua Hotel Invitational. Unfortunately for the Lady Pioneers, they left Hawaii with an 0-4 record.

First, on Thursday, August 27, they lost two sets to three to Chaminade after holding a 2-1 advantage through three sets; on August 28, CSEB took to the floor twice, losing 3-0 to both Hawaii at Hilo and Hawaii-Pacific which neither game was ever in question; and their three-day run concluded on August 29 with a 3-1 loss to BYU-Hawaii, dropping them to 0-4.

Coach Ryan's team will look to rebound from their poor start to the season with another early season tournament, the California Clash Tournament, held in San Francisco, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 4-5, where they'll play two games each day.

CSEB's cross country team also began its season with the Bay Trails Road Race, but results were not available at press. They will next hit the road on September 11 for the Humboldt Invitational.